Spring roller construction



March l, 1938. F. MAY

SPRING ROLLER CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 26, 1935 Fran/t May. l

mygNToR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to roller screens adapted to form an openable closure for windows and the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide a roller screen particularly adapted for convenient installation on the outside of a window so as thereby to obviate the necessity for frequent opening of the roller screen to permit opening of the Window.

Another object resides in the provision of an improved spring roller in conjunction with a roller window screen, the novel arrangement of the'roller affording convenient means for readily adjusting the tension of the torsional spring thereof without requiring the removal of the roller to accomplish the mentioned setting.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of a window screen and spring roller for same comprising certain features of novelty which render the device readily adaptable to Windows of various sizes, thereby permitting the manufacture of a standard size of window screen which may be installed on windows varying in dimensions with a minimum of alteration to the screen and operating mechanism thereof.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical window installation including the roller screen of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thru a typical window equipped with the roller screen of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view thru the casing of the device illustrating the spring roller thereof, parts being shown in central section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the spring roller shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of the roller shown in Fig. 3.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawing for a more detailed description thereof, wherein the numeral 6 indicates a suitable boxlike casing adapted for attachment preferably to the outside of a window frame, being secured thereto as by the screws 'I. The casing 6 is open at the side adjacent to the window to which it is attached, the bottom of the casing being flanged at 8 to present a resilient edge for contact with the roller screen. Within the casing 6 is provided a spring roller 9 rotatably mounted therein as illustrated in Fig. 3. The roller 9, being springactuated, is adapted to receive the entire length of screen fabric I0, the latter being supported upon the periphery of the roller 9.

To the respective sides of the window frame is affixed suitable guide channels I I, the same being preferably fabricated of sheet material bent upon itself to form a channel structure into which the lateral edges of the screen fabric i0 are slidably disposed. It is to be noted here that the screen fabric I0 being Wound upon the spring roller 9 increases in diameter. To compensate for this action a guide roller I2 is employed, the same being rotatably mounted on the ends of the casing 6 and disposed tangentially to the guide channels II so as to guide the screen fabric I0 from the spring roller 9 in proper alignment with the channels II.

The free edge of the screen fabric I0 is reinforced by a, rigid strip I3 to which are secured suitable spring latches I4 at each end thereof. The spring roller 9 imparts a constant tension to the screen fabric I0 so as to permit convenient opening of the screen as well as to tension the span of the screen fabric I0 in position over the window to prevent distortion of same. The screen fabric I0 in closed position over the Window is retained in this position by the engagement of the spring catches I4 with complemental latch plates I5 mounted on the guide channels II. Simultaneously release of the catches I4 Will thus permit rapid opening of the screen I0, the same being actuated by the spring roller 9 to Wind the screen thereon.

To facilitate adjustment of the tension of the spring roller 9 same embodies novel means illustrated in Fig. 3. The spring roller 9 is formed at one end in an axial bore I6 in which is housed a torsional spring II, the latter being retained on a rotatable rod I8 journaled within the roller 9. The free ends of the spring Il are aixed respectively to the rod I8 and the roller 9 so as to impart a rotation to the latter. The outer end of the rod I8 is equipped with a cylinder I9 by which the rod I8 is journaled in a plate 20 secured to the end of the roller 9. A series of notches 22 are formed in the periphery of the cylinder I9,

the notches constituting a ratchet wheel. The

cylinder I9 is also formed with an axially extending lug 2I for engagement with a suitable socket 23 mounted on the casing 6.

The structure of the roller 9 thus far described provides for imparting a rotation to the roller by the torsional spring l1. To permit adjustment of the spring Il to the desired tension a pawl 24 is provided, the same being swingably mounted on a stud 25 secured to the plate 2D. The pawl 24 is arranged to have its free end engage in one of the series of notches 22 so as to lock the roller 9 against rotation relative to the rod I8. This locking is employed only during adjustment of the spring Il, which adjustment is effected by pulling down the screen I3, thus Winding the spring Il whence Athe pawl 24 is released to drop into one of the notches 22. Further tensioningof the spring il may be effected by disengaging the roller Si from its sockets and thereafter manually winding up the screen fabric thereon. The roller being replaced in its sockets may be further tensioned by again drawing down the screen I0 until the desired tension of the spring l1 is had.

It will be apparent that the pawl 24 functions only during adjustment of the spring ll and that in actual use the spring Il is free to impart a rotation to the roller il, the pawl 24 being held in inactive position as shown in phantom outline in Fig. 4. The pawl 24 is formed with a laterally extending lug 23, the same presenting an inclined surface 2l functioning lto retract the pawl 24 to ineffective position. Rotatably mounted on the vend of the roller 9 is a cylindrical ferrule 28 having a slot 29 therein in which the lug 23 is disposed. It will be apparent that by rotation of the ferrule 23 on the roller 9 that an end cf the slot 23 engages the inclined surface 2l of the lug 2B thereby camming the pawl 2li out of engagement with the notch 22 and into ineffective position, the ferrule 28 being formed with a series of ears 30 for convenience in rotating the ferrule 28.

In the opposite end of the roller 3 is formed an axial bore 3l in which is sldably disposed a stud shaft32, the latter being backed by a spring 33. The stud shaft 32 has a slot 3 formed in its periphery in which slot is disposed a pin 35 secured to the roller 9 and adapted to engage the ends of the slot 34 to limit the endwise movement of the stud 32. The free end of the stud shaft 32 is reduced to form a trunnion 36, the same being engaged in a suitable socket 31 secured to an end of the casing 6. The arrangement of the stud shaft 32 as described permits the roller 9 to be accommodated in various sizes of windows in that the stud shaft 32 being axially extensible effects the lengthening of the roller 9 to lit the window, the position ofthe shaft 32 being retained bythe pressure of the spring 33. It will also be apparent that the resilient mounting of the shaft 32 facilitates adjustment of the tension of spring Il as described by permitting convenient Withdrawal of the lug 2| axially from its socket 23 as well as to function during the entire removal of the roller 9 from the casing 6.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the inven tion nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appendedclaim.

What is claimed as new is:

A spring roller construction adapted for mounting on a window frame and to receive a screen fabric thereon, comprising, a roller, an interiorly arranged torsional spring for rotating saidroller, a ratchet wheel secured to said spring, a pawl associated with said wheel to lock the same upon adjustment of said spring in one direction, and a ferrule having a pawl operating slot for receiving an end of said pawl and rotatably mounted on said roller whereby said slot functions to cam said pawl out of engagement with said Wheel upon rotation of said ferrule relative to said roller.

FRANK MAY. 

